Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson’s fight with Shannon Briggs has been called off.
The fight was set to take place on June 1 in Qatar. The fight had first been teased when the duo had an altercation with each other in 2022 at a Triller press conference for the Triad Combat event. The clips shows Briggs trying to take Jackson down, as things got out of hand.
Jackson fought in 2019, losing to Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 237. That took his Bellator record to three losses in his previous four bouts. His last fight was a 2023 win at Fight Circus. Jackson was with former PRIDE fighter Bob Sapp in a siamese boxing match.
They defeated Jon Nutt and ‘Woody’ via a third-round TKO. Briggs has been inactive since 2016. His big wins were over George Foreman and Ray Mercer. However, losses to Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko also took place. The news has now been confirmed.
Jackson vs. Briggs
“I’ve been told that the Rampage Jackson vs. Shannon Briggs boxing match in Qatar is off. It’s unknown whether or not QSM will continue to try and hold an event on June 8. However, all signs and indications point to it having never been legitimate in the first place,” Drake Riggs reported
That will be a massive blow for Jackson, who was desperate for the fight.
“I finally got the contract. It’s been over two years in the making of me hearing Mr. Shannon Briggs’ mouth. I get to shut him up once and for all in Qatar, on June 1. I got to sign this contract. Shannon, you’re going to regret even calling me out all those years ago and you’ve been posting just ungodly videos of me, tagging me in ungodly videos and I just endured it. I got the contract. Thank God. I’m going to shut your mouth once and for all,” Jackson revealed
Gane’s Olympic Role
Elsewhere, Ciryl Gane will be an Olympic torchbearer at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The Games will take place in the Frenchman’s home country. As per custom, the flame will pass through various stages throughout the country before making its way to the opening ceremony. Gane has been chosen to take on that duty.
The relay begins on May 9 and continues for 11 weeks before the start of the Olympics on July 26. Approximately 10,000 people, consisting of athletes and volunteers, will take part. Each person will carry the flame for around 200 meters. Gane will pick up his duties at the 24th stage from Deux-Sèvres to Les Sables-d’Olonne.
While that is a historic feat, Gane will be hoping to get back to the top of the UFC Heavyweight Division. He missed out on the UFC Heavyweight Title twice, losing to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 and Jon Jones at UFC 285. While he secured a TKO win against Serghei Spivac last September, a world title is the aim.
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